It’s finally open: Fairgoers storm the LA County Fair

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Val Cheatham of Simi Valley, Calif. get her kicks along Route 66 at LA County Fair in Pomona on opening day. The Wonder Woman/Vulcan fan was drawn to the vibrant dragons representing Chinatown. Photographed on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Victor Mendez, 6, totes around his winnings, which is as big as the Los Angeles youngster, after tossing balls in a booth. Opening day at LA County Fair was a warm 93 degrees in the afternoon, but fairgoers were glad it wasn’t in the triple digits on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Val Cheatham of Simi Valley, Calif. get her kicks along Route 66 at LA County Fair in Pomona on opening day. The Wonder Woman/Vulcan fan was drawn to the vibrant dragons representing Chinatown. Photographed on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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Dominque Wohl of Pomona, Calif., left, and niece Zanyah, 7, of Pasadena get air on Konga at Route 66-inspired LA County Fair in Pomona, Calif. on opening day, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

It’s raining umbrellas and Lisa Yeung of Arcadia, Calif. fits in beautifully with it at LA County Fair’s opening day Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Get your kicks on Route 66 in every language at Millard Sheets Gallery exhibit. The LA County Fair in Pomona, Calif. had its opening day on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Alyssa Marin, 14, of Wilmington Calif., screams before Remix, an intense spinning attraction, starts at the 66-inspired LA County Fair in Pomona, Calif. Its opening day was Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Alyssa Marin, 14, of Wilmington Calif., left, needs to sit a spell after surviving Remix, an intense spinning attraction, at the 66-inspired LA County Fair in Pomona, Calif. Its opening day was Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Signs of LA County Fair’s opening day in Pomona, Calif. on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Yvonne Hernandez definitely gets her kicks at LA County Fair on opening day Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. It’s the Pomona resident’s 36 consecutive time. She’ll be on the Pomona grounds everyday until it ends Sept. 23, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Sandra Mack of Upland, Calif., left front, and Yvonne Hernandez of Pomona are LA County Fair fans. They wait in a long line to attend opening day on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

All was quiet as the 66-inspired LA County Fair in Pomona, Calif. opened Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Samantha Meloza, 14, of Wilmington Calif., top, tries to find her way out at the glass fun house. The 66-inspired LA County Fair in Pomona, Calif. Its opening day was Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Vendors wait for fairgoers at LA County Fair in Pomona, Calif. Its opening day was Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

For the first time in at least a couple of decades, the L.A. County Fair this year has brought back the concept of the fair theme: “Get Your Kicks…at the LA County Fair.” The multiweek fair ends Sept. 23.

In classic first-day jitters, there was a small computer glitch that held up entrants at the Green Gate, but it was resolved quickly, according to Fair spokeswoman Renee Hernandez.

Sandra Mack, who lives off Route 66 — on Foothill Boulevard in Upland — was pleased to see the historic road getting some recognition.

“It ties in well with the history of Pomona: classic cars and diner foods. That all ties in together,” her daughter Tanisha Mack added.

Sandra and Tanisha Mack were among the dozens of people waiting in line for Gate 1 to open. The pair have been coming to opening day for at least two decades, making sure to always snag a ticket for the first concert of the season.

“This is our annual thing — we do the fireworks and fairgrounds,” Tanisha Mack said. “It’s nostalgic to come to the fair every year.”

The mother and daughter duo were in line to buy their tickets for the concert but said they would be back later in the evening to feast on fair food and take in the scenery.

Sandra Mack acknowledged she has to have a turkey leg at least once during the Fair’s run, while Tanisha Mack likes to indulge in a vanilla ice cream bar dipped in chocolate and topped with walnuts.

As they discussed food options, they recalled their love for curly fries, dubbed Piggly Wiggly fries in Fair-speak.

“It’s exciting,” Sandra Mack said about the day. “It’s the biggest thing that happens in Pomona every year.”

Over at the Fairplex Garden Railroad exhibit was coordinator Rick Bremer, who was excited to show off the Route 66 changes made at the largest miniature railroad display of its kind in the United States.

The additions were meant to complement the attraction on Picnic Hill called, “Get Your Kicks on Route 66 — Explore All 8 States.”

They include a 12-foot tall train station façade entrance and a scene for each state. Upon entering the exhibit, guests will see a traditional train schedule board which includes such additions as miniature versions of the Wigwam Motel and Cadillac Ranch.

The eastside corner was converted into Santa Monica, complete with the pier, Ferris wheel and iconic entry sign.

It was no easy venture, Bremer said. The director of scenes for the Fairplex Garden Railroad and other volunteers met with the Fairplex creative director in January to discuss how this year’s theme would be incorporated.

“This layout was originally designed to be California in 1950s and we add things and upgrade things — but then all of sudden we’re chasing Route 66,” said Jim Busch, operations manager of Garden Railroad.

Good thing most of the volunteers have driven the Mother Road, Busch said.

Since early May, members of the leadership team spent hundreds of hours hand-building the news scenes, which also feature a New Mexico stop with a Roswell-inspired alien spaceship abducting a man, which Bremer was sure would be a crowdpleaser.

“This is most talented group of people I’ve ever had pleasure to work with,” he said, referring to the 78 volunteers.

Temperatures hovered in the lows 90s for most of the opening day, a stark contrast to years past when they reached triple digits. Yvonne Hernandez, who will visit the Fair each day of this year’s run, doesn’t let that bother her. She was planning to stay for bit Friday afternoon but then return on her bike in the evening.

“I enjoy the first day — it’s exciting. Everybody is here and it’s fun,” she said.

Liset Márquez covers the cities of Pomona, Claremont, La Verne and San Dimas for the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. A beat reporter for the Bulletin since 2006, she previously wrote for the Chattanooga Times Free Press. She keeps a watchful eye on city councils and the Dodgers.